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Reader's Questions - Hummingbird Plant |
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Question: I have a hummingbird
plant that has never bloomed. It has been in the ground for 3 yrs.
It grows extraordinarily well but no blooms. Why does it not bloom?
Answer: I assume that by "hummingbird plant" you mean dicliptera suberecta, which (supposedly) blooms with orange/red, tubular flowers and has soft grayish leaves. You don't give me much to go on, but I'll tell you what I do know. The number one reason that plants and shrubs fail to bloom is inadequate light. You don't say where it is other than it is in the ground. This is a plant that will tolerate a good amount of heat and drought and likes its fair share of sun. If there is something around it that is shading it for half a day or more, that's probably your issue. If it's in full sun and it is failing to bloom, it's something else. You don't say whether you have fertilized lately and with what, or where you live and what your soil type is, but since this is a plant that is not known for its cold hardiness, I'm assuming you are not in the north. This is a plant that blooms from about mid-summer on, so in late June as I write this, it may still be a little early for blooms. If you haven't fertilized, do so with a fertilizer specifically designed for flowering plants. If you are fertilizing, make sure you are using something balanced. Too much nitrogen will result in a lovely foliage plant but few flowers. There's an outside chance that the plant doesn't like it's soil - too much clay or sand, but you say that it looks healthy, so you are probably okay there. With the limited information I have, that's the best information I can offer. Good luck!
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